Call to boost Formby's flood defences
Ward councillor is concerned drains are not able to move flood water out of the village quickly enough. Formby councillors will meet with Sefton engineers in the New Year to discuss the town's flood defences.
Labour’s Harington ward councillor Nina Killen says there is widespread concern over how drains failed to cope with the many centimetres of rain that fell over the weekend of December 11.
Cllr Killen said that Park Close, close to the new Bellway development at the old Powerhouse site, and parts of Church Road were submerged by rainwater.
Cllr Killen said: “No one wants to see their road flood and people are obviously concerned about what might happen in an even worse storm.
“We must protect people and property and that is what Sefton’s flood strategy sets out to do.
“Unfortunately climate change seems to be bringing with it so much more of this unsettled weather and heavy rain and we understand residents’ concerns that further development may increase the risk.
“We will be meeting with Sefton’s senior engineers to discuss what is being done to address this issue, to make drains flow better and how new developments can actually improve the flooding issue as opposed to making it worse.”
Sefton Council recently undertook a flood strategy consultation with residents and Cllr Killen says she is pleased to see the council working closely with residents.
Cllr Killen added: “We are making sure the council is on top of this. Others may like residents to think that flooding is only caused or made worse by recent development and are using this as a reason why Formby should have no further new homes, but we will be pushing for any new development to improve the drainage and flood situation for current residents as well as for the new homes.
“No development should get the go-ahead until it has been shown that the drainage and flood risk will be improved.”
See the photos and video of the torrential rain in Formby on December 3rd by CLICKING HERE
Story source: Southport Visiter by Tom Duffy
